The Camera Or The Lens?

They are equally important, as one doesn't function without the other. But more important is the ability to go to where the shot is, and to have the artistic vision for the shot.

It's still the lens. I always opt for quality optics, whatever that may mean. Prime or zoom, I always want the best. I don't use much in the way of bells and whistles on my cameras, and sensor size is relative to the assignment. I only need to know that my camera has the ability to reproduce accurately what the lens is pointing at. If I have a poor quality lens, that may affect the final product.

Its the lens big time for me as well

it depends what your doing with it. you can't do much without 1 of each. for me it's the body, the lens is a bit mediocre but gets the job done. the camera can handle high iso, for me that's important.

---Mike Savad

The camera, for without a camera I can't use the lens.

Lens....shooting into the light is unforgiving, and its what i spend alot of time doing.

To me they're equally important, I do value being able to use good glass but the problem is that not all lenses are equal on different bodies, it's a case of matching the performance of each and pairing them accordingly.

The eye is for composing an image, not quality of an image

As an investment? The Lens as it will last longer than the camera.

Not knowing how to use a lens or camera, or using a bad lens can make for a fuzzy image, unless that was your plan. Your eyes don't have anything to do with that.

I'll buy that. Plenty of fine art is made with cheap plastic cameras and lens.

Remember though that sharpness is just one aspect of the quality of a lens. The way it draws, (micro)constrast, bokeh. There is some truth in Philip's statement about making a good photograph with a bad lens, but having very good glass does help in more ways than just sharpness.

"A fuzzy image of a sharp concept also kind of sucks"
Dean Harte

Yes.....

I have always heard glass glass glass..... That said, I would rather shoot with a kit lens on a FF sensor than L glass on a crop. That is from direct and recent experience. Best yet, good glass and FF sensor goodness combined.

JC it is interesting to note that L glass wasn't designed for a crop, but there are alot of crop designed lenses that are pretty great.

Still you can pry my 5dIII out of my cold dead hands if you were trying to give me a cropper back for landscape work LOL.

Your right Philip, but the thread didn't ask what the most important part of making an image is, it was what you think is more important, to you. The camera or lens. No one is trying to market anything in this thread, or cares to.

You should go bother another thread with your philosophies and anger. Its a simple question

I love my Canon 60D. Just wish I had a better lens on the short end than I do right now. But I'm missing one key ingredient to getting it -- MONEY. So that's more important to me at this point! LOL

Isn't this like asking to chose between our eyes or our brain?

Depends what side of your brain you want to use John

I agree with Ian. "... it's a case of matching the performance of each and pairing them accordingly."

What's more important,.....

The guy behind the guy in front of me.

What I see.

I'd have say that the purchase of a new lens - say a fast one with the capacity for shallow depth of field, buying a macro lens, or wide angle lens can have more potential effect on your photography then a new camera body.